Last week, doctoral student Brian Schulkin was selected as the winner of the first annual $30,000 Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize. The prize, which recognizes a senior or graduate student at RPI who has demonstrated remarkable inventiveness, was given to Schulkin based on his development of an ultra-light, handheld terahertz spectrometer. Schulkin was selected from among four finalists for the prize.
Named the “Mini-Z,” Schulkin’s invention is a breakthrough removing the need to use bulky equipment for sensing and imaging in the terahertz spectrum. “T-rays” have already proven their efficacy at detecting cracks in space shuttle foam, imaging tumors in breast tissue, and spotting counterfeit watermarks in paper currency. The Mini-Z, weighing in at less than five pounds and small enough to fit into a briefcase, will allow the technology to reach a whole new range of applications that include homeland security, biomedical imaging, and nondestructive testing of industrial components.
“I think [the Mini-Z] is exciting because it blends [Schulkin’s] knowledge in the basic science of the terahertz waves with a technological approach that can really make a difference,” said President Shirley Ann Jackson. “We’re very proud of him.”
“Not only does Brian have an impressive grasp of theoretical concepts, but he also has the rare ability to combine this understanding with solid engineering principles,” said Dean Alan Cramb of the School of Engineering. Schulkin holds degrees in both applied physics and engineering.
The Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize is one of two programs that extend the nonprofit Lemelson-MIT Program that was founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. The prize is the namesake of Jerome H. Lemelson, whom Jackson said was “one of the most prolific American inventors” and who had more than 550 patents in his lifetime. Jerome and his wife, Dorothy, founded the Lemelson Foundation, which funds the prizes. Dorothy acclaimed Schulkin’s entry and presented the 26-year-old Schulkin with the prize.
Entries were judged by a number of criteria, including inventive behavior, creativity, potential as a role-model, societal benefit, potential for commercial success, and quality of the candidate’s supporting letters. Judges of the competition included professors, administrators, members of industry, and entrepreneurs.
The Mini-Z was developed using a special type of plastic for its body and optical components making it very small and light. It’s about the size of a laptop computer, and it does not require any peripheral equipment. Schulkin said that when it was first introduced, many didn’t believe it could be so small. “The kinds of comments we got were, ‘Where’s the rest of it?’” he said. Most T-ray systems are built upon benches, and the size and weight of current T-ray systems has been one of the largest obstacles to the wide-spread use of technology.
The device also provides real-time data without any latency. The Mini-Z is designed to be simple to operate as well, meaning that most people will not require special training to operate the device. “It’s a turnkey system—all you have to do is open the box, set it up, and turn it on,” Schulkin said.
T-rays, one of the least explored portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, have frequencies between 0.1 and 10 terahertz. That places them between infrared light and microwave radiation. “Terahertz waves are the last window in the electromagnetic spectrum to be exploited by scientists,” Schulkin said.
T-rays offer distinct advantages over other imaging techniques. T-rays are capable of offering greater image resolution than microwave radiation, are safer than X-rays, and do not require contact with an object as ultrasound does, all without causing damage or requiring objects be moved.
Schulkin and his team are currently in the process of commercializing the Mini-Z. Several companies have contacted him interested in licensing the technology. The varied applications include evaluating the integrity of carbon fiber composites used in airplanes, imaging tumors without needing harmful radiation, detecting explosives at airport security checkpoints, spotting landmines from a distance, and seeing biological agents through a sealed envelope, according to an Institute press release.
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Lockheed Martin Space Systems have sent foam samples to Schulkin and his collegues to conduct tests helping to prove the viability of terahertz imaging. The team embedded defects in specially prepared foam samples, and then was able to use the T-rays to spot the defects. In one test, a total of eight man-made defects of various sizes were placed and detected successfully.
NASA’s External Tank Project Office is currently evaluating a prototype of the Mini-Z, looking for new ways to use the technology to complement or replace those it currently uses in its non-destructive evaluations.
The other finalists for the Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize included Gregory Tan Eyck, whose research focuses on the interconnections within electronic circuitry and has provided innovations that have helped researchers take next steps on fuel cells, reduction of carbon dioxide impacts, and even generating super-small, super-efficient microelectronics; Eben Bayer, whose work with organic insulation and other environmental issues have helped to develop a way to capture energy from wind without the conventional turbines; and Ludovico Dell Acqua-Bellavitis, whose lab-on-a-chip devices hold promise to account for cell behavior at the molecular, microscopic, and mesoscopic levels. More information about all the finalists and video of the award ceremony are available at http://www.rpi.edu/lemelson/.
Regarding Rensselaer’s selection to offer the prize alongside MIT, Jackson said, “This is fundamentally a recognition of how brilliant our students are, how innovative our approach to education is, and what our young people really do with that education. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
When asked what he will do with the prize money, Schulkin replied, “Invest it, and maybe buy my wife a new laptop.”
